Samardzija 1-hits Tigers, 2-0, in first game of doubleheader

DETROIT After the top five hitters in the Detroit Tigers’ batting order Monday afternoon at Comerica Park, Chicago White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija was facing a Triple-A lineup.

It showed. He shut down the Tigers on one hit, winning the first game of the day-night doubleheader, 2-0, against last-place Detroit. The contest ended in a quick two hours and 12 minutes.

The Tigers, who were shut out for the ninth time this season, played the game without batting leader Miguel Cabrera.

Tigers starter Kyle Ryan wasn’t bad in falling to 2-4 on the year. He set down the first seven batters in order.

Second baseman Carlos Sanchez ripped a double down the leftfield line with two out in the third, giving the Sox their first baserunner. Adam Eaton then lined a single to short right field. Steven Moya came up throwing, and the home plate umpire initially called Sanchez out as he tried to score. But the ruling was overturned on review, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Samardzija (10-13) set the Tigers down in order through the first four innings. In his previous start, he gave up 10 runs in three innings against Oakland, as his ERA ballooned to 5.32.

But he never was under duress in this easy victory.

The Tigers finally got a hit in the fifth, when Victor Martinez’s popup landed between shortstop and the left fielder for a single. He was playing first base in place of Cabrera.

The Sox got out of the mild threat, and Sanchez (three hits) continued his big afternoon with a home run to left field in the top of the sixth.

Ryan was lifted after the seventh, after 91 pitches. He allowed just two runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Tigers third baseman Jefy Marte started an inning-ending double play in the fourth and made a couple of sparkling defensive plays thereafter.

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